Striking apparatus



(No Model.) v

P. A. WIDGER.

STRIKING APPARATUS.

No. 410,475. Patented Sept. 3, 1889..

INVENTE] M *5 Max ph er, Washington, 0. c

N. PETERS. momma UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK. A. \VIDGER, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

STRIKING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,475, dated September 3, 1889.

Application filed April 9, 1889. Serial No. 306,635, (No model.)

To all 1071/0711 it may concern;

lle it known that I, FRANK. A. \VIDGER, of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Striking Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to striking apparatus such as are used in gymnasiums, and has for its object to provide a striking apparatus which may be used in any room without disfiguring the ceiling or having overhead attachment; and to this end it consists in the improved means for supporting and giving elasticity to the striking-bag.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of an apparatus embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of another form of supportingrod. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of another form of base as open for use, and Fig. 4 a top view of the same closed.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts .in all the figures.

In the drawings, (t represents a strikii'igbag of spherical form and construct-ed, as is usual, of rubber,inflated and provided with a coveringof leather. Said bag is supported by an elastic or resilient standard or supporti n grod 1), which is preferably of hickory or other flexible wood, but may be of any suitable elasticor resilient material which will enable it to support the bag in a normal position and to yield to blows exerted on the bag and to quickly return the bag to its normal position. The rod is normally held in a vertical posit-i011 by being placed in a socket (Z, in which it is held by the thumb-screw e. The standard 0, as shown in Fig. 1, has three or more legs 0, which may be screwed to the floor at their ends to more firmly hold the apparatus.

\Vhen in use, the bag is struck by the fist, and, owing to the elasticity of the supportingrod Z), first flies in the direction of the blow, and then rebounds toward the striker. As it passes its normal point of rest, it is again struck by the fist and knocked back, only to return. By this quick and decided response to the blows a continuous and lively exercise is afforded the user.

beyond their original position, thus securing a more energetic response to the blow.

In all previous striking apparatus the bag, being either suspended freely or loosely sup ported, has had too free a movement and too extended a rebound, knockingthe user down at times,or acquiring a side oscillation, which has had to be overcome before further use. In my improved form of machine the rebound is not sufficiently extended to reach the user and the tendency to side oscillation is much less.

It may be desirable at times to give the striking-bag somewhat greater freedom of movement than is afforded by a supportingrod of hickory. In this case I prefer to use a metal supporting-rod with a spirally-coiled portion 1), which gives the greater extent of movement while preserving the elasticity. The metal rod, with the vertical spiral, is adapted to be used with the same standard as the hickory rod 1).

To avoid attaching the base to the floor by screws or otherwise, I may provide a folding base of greater extent, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which will fully uphold and steady the supporting-rod without such attachment. Said folding base may be composed, of bars or slats m and cross-bars n, secured together pivotally by the pins or bolts 0. The central cross-bar n has a boss or socket d for receiving the rod Z), which may be held therein by the thumb -screw c. Re-enforcing springs may be used with this base, as with the first form.

IVhen not in use, the rod and bag are removed from the base and thelatter folded, as shown in Fig. 4.

I prefer to place the socket d at one end of the central cross-bar, since greater resistance Will then be oifered to a blow tending to overturn the striking apparatus. If the person exercising stands on the side of the bag opposite the base-frame, the whole extent of its surface resists the blow, or if he stands upon the frame on the side opposite the socket and bag the Weight of his body prevents the standard from giving Way.

With either form of base no overhead attachment is needed, so the apparatus can be used in any room Without disfiguring the ceiling or any special preparation thereof for using the apparatus, and it can as Well be used in a gymnasium with a high ceiling Without providing a striking or rebounding board above or any overhead attachment. With the folding base no attachment to the floor is needed, and the apparatus may be moved to any place or room for use. The adjustability of the resilient standard in the socket on the base or pedestal enables the bag to be adjusted to the height of the person striking.

I claim- 1. In a striking apparatus, the combination of a hollow bag of yielding material, an elas- FRANK. A. VVIDGER;

Witnesses:

E. O. PHILLIPS, C. F. BROWN. 

